Moving-picture-projecting machine



J. A. DE VILBISS. MOVING PICTURE PROJECUNG MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED AFR. 23, 1919.

fami-,ed (m. 24, 192g Mig@ Patented @et 24, i222.

NETE@ PATENT @FFHCQ JOHN A. DE VILBISS, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNO'R, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, 'EO DE VIIIBISS ENDLESS FILM MACHINE COMPANY, A CORPORATION 0F MISSOURI.

llfl.'OVING-PICTURE-IROJECTING MACHINE.

l#application filed April 23, 1919. Serial No. 292,055.

To all w hom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN A. DE ViLBIss, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Moving- Picture-Projecting Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and eXact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to moving picture projecting machines, and particularly to the means used in sucli machines for' supporting or carrying the film or picture strip.

One object of my invention is to provide an efficient moving picture projecting machine of simple design which is so construct ed that a continuous film of relatively great length can be successfully handled in the machine and fed lfrom the film carrier through the projecting apparatus and back to the film carrier, thereby enabling the picture to be repeated automatically one time 'after another.

Another object is to provide a rotatable film carrier for moving picture machines which is so designed that the film on same is wound edgewise, or, in other words, with the coils or loops of the film extending spirally around the longitudinal axis of the carrier with their flat faces disposed at an angle to the aXis of rotation of the carrier.

Figure l of the drawings is a side elevational view of a moving picture projecting machine constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical cross sectional view of a portion of the film carrier, taken on the line 2 2 of Figure l.

Figure 3 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view, taken on the line 3 8 of Figure l, illustrating the construction of the spreading device that is combined with the film guide at the lower side of the film carrier.

Figure a is an enlarged horizontal sec'- tional view of tlie film guide, taken on the line 4 4 of Figure l; and

Figure 5 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view, taken on the line 5 5 of F igure l, illustrating the guiding device at the upper side of the film carrier over which the film passes as it is unwindingfrom said carrier.

Referring to the drawings which illustrate the preferred form of my invention, A designates the projecting apparatus of a moving picture machine, B designates the illuminating device that is arranged at the reail of said projecting apparatus, and C designates a film or picture strip arranged to travel between said illuminating device and projecting apparatus. The film C' is in the form of a continuous band or endiess belt and is mounted on a rotatable film carrier D in such a manner that it leads forwardly from the upper 'side of said film carl rier over a guide roller l,l downwardly through a feeding mechanism, one of whose elements is designated by the reference character 2, then over a guide roller 3 andA thence rearwardly from said roller 3 to the lower side of tlie film carrier D. It is immaterial what means is employed for feeding the filni C, but it is preferable to use a film feeding mechanism that'comprises an electric motor 4 or other suitable driving device that will operate continuously after being set in o-peration.

rlhe film carrierD can be formed in various ways without departing from the spirit of my invention, so lon as it -is constructed in such a manner that t e film can be wound onto same edgewise, or, in other words, with the fiat faces of the coils or loops of the film disposed at an angle to the axis of rol tation of the carrier instead of parallel to the axis of rotation of the coil, as has heretofore been the usual method of rolling a film. The film carrier D herein shown consists of a relatively large wheel, for example, a wheel five or six feet in diameter, that is provided with a flat rim portion 5 onto which the film is wound, a hub portion that revolves on a horizontally-disposed shaft 6 carried by a stationary standard 'i' and spokes 8 that project radially from said hub portion to said rim portion. rThe lm C is wound edgewise onto the rim portion 5 of the carrier D and is confined in position on said rim portion by means of a side flange 9 at one. edge of said rim portion, and a ringshaped member 10 that surrounds said rim portion and which is arranged parallel Jto the side flange 9, said ring-shaped member i to the axis of rota-tiony of the carrier is immaterial, so long as said coils or loops extend spirally around the carrier longitudinall of' the carrier. ln the form of my invention herein illustrated the side flange 9 and the ring-shaped member 10 are disposed vertically with relation to the rim portion 5 of the carrier so as to cause the coils or loops of the film to lie in planes at right angles, or approximately so`r to the axis of' the carrier, but it will be obvious that the same -result could be accomplished by having the coils or loops of the films lie in planes that are inclined relatively to the portion ofthe carrier onto which the film is wound edgewise. The essential thing is to wind the film onto the carrier in such a manner that the film forms a plurality of coils or convolutions through which the film supporting portion of the carrier extends, thereby permitting` the film to be drawn or fed from one end of the source of supply and returned to the opposite end of said source of supply. To wind the film or picture strip onto the carrier D, the ringshaped member 10 is first arranged in close proximity to the side flange 9 on the carrier, and the end of the film is then inserted edgewise between the flange 9 and the member 1() and temporarily attached to said member 1() in any preferred manner. rlhe carrier D is then revolved so as to wind the film edgewise onto the rim portion 5 of the carrier between the two parallel portions 9 and 10 of the carrier that hold the film in a vertical position. As the film builds up on the carrier the ring-shaped member 10 is moved laterally away from the side flange 9 so as to increase the space between the members 9 and 10. Various means mayi be used for moving the ring-shaped member 10 towards and away from the side flange 9, such, for example, as screws 11 adjustably mounted in a flange 92t or in bearingson the rim portion of the film carrier and connected at their inner ends to the ring-shaped member 10 in such a manner that when said A screws are turned in one direction the member 10 will be moved towards the side flange 9, and when said screws are turned in the opposite direction said member 10 will be moved away from the side flange 9. By constructing the film carrier in this manner, namely, providing it with a cylindrical portion onto which the film is wound edgewise and equipping said carrier with an adjustable member 10 that holds the film in a vertical position or parallel to the side flange 9 when the film is being wound onto the carrier, l can make the cylindrical portion or rim portion of the carrier long or wide enough to support a continuous-film of relatively great length, for example, a film several thousand feet long.

After the film has been Wound onto the maaier carrier D and arranged in engagement with the guide rollers and the film feeding mechanism, previously referred to, the ends of the film are connected together and the film detached from the member l0, thus forming a continuous band or endless belt that leads from the upper side of the carrier D at one end of the source of supply thereon, between the light-ing unit and projecting apparatus of the machine, and thence back to the lower side of the film carrier to the opposite end of the source of supply on the carrier.

The guide rolls 1 and 3 are so arranged that the film will be fed through the machine flatwise, and thus be presented to the projecting apparatus in the same manner as in the moving picture machine now m general use, and in order to insure the film being guided onto the carrier D properly, or, in other words, rewound onto said carrier after it has passed through the projecting apparatus, l haveiapranged a stationary guiding device E adJacent the -lower side of the carrier D, as shown 1n Figure 1, so as to twist the film 'from the horizontal position it occupies after leaving the guide roller 3 into a vertical position parallel with the side flange 9 of the film carrier. The device E herein shown consists of a stationary guideway, designed i-n such a manner that it will cause the film to twist gradually from a horizontal into a vertical position` and tension rollers 12 combined with said guideway in such a manner that the film travels between said tension rollers just before it passes onto the rim portion of the `film carrier D, said tension rollers serving to keep the film taut. rllhe front end portion 13 of said stationary guideway, through which the film enters, is flare-d, as shown in Figure t, but the rear end portion 14 of said guideway is of approximately channel shape in cross section and of substantially the same cross-sectional dimensions as the film, as shown in Figure 2. lt will also be noted by referring to Figure 2 that the channel-shaped portion 14 .of the guiding device E extends under the rim portion of the film carrier D and is arranged in close proximity to the side flange 9 on the film carrier. Consequently, the device E causes the film to be fed edgewise onto the rim portion 5 of the carrier D and flat against the side flange 9 on said rim portion. ln order to spread the film away from the side flange 9 on the carrier, and thus form a space for the portion of the film that is being rewound onto the carrier D, l have provided the guiding device E with a sharp edged member 15 whose front end is disposed in sufficiently close proximity to the inner side of' the flange 9 on the carrier to force the film laterally away from said flange, as shown in Figure 3, and thus provide a space for the portion of the film that passes from the channel-shaped portion 14 of the guiding device E onto the film carrier. The rim portion 5 of the film carrier is preferably tapered slightly or made slightly cone-shaped, as shown in Figure 2, so as tocause the portion of the film that constitutes the source of supply to creep or work laterally towards the ring-shaped member 10 on the film carrier as the film is being wound off of and onto the carrier. I also prefer to arrange a stationary sharp-edged guiding device 16 at the upper side of the film carrier in close proximity to the inner side of the member 10 so as to force the film away from said member 10 as the film is unwinding from the carrier.

In order that'- the machine may be used out in the open and without havingan attendant stationed atl the machine, I have provided it with a housing 3 that encases the various elements and parts previously referred to, said housing being provided in its front wall with an opening 17 arranged in alignment with the' projecting apparatus A.

In view of the fact that the film or picture strip is in the form of a band or endless belt, the picture on the film will be repeated automatically one time after another so long as the film feeding mechanism of the machine continues in operation.. Accordingly,

such a machine is admirably adapted for advertising purposes, as it is not necessary to have an attendant or operator remain at the machine after the film feeding mechanism-has been started. The film carrier D is of such form that it is capable of supporting a continuous film of relatively great length, and as it is equipped with two parallel, film holding portions, one of which can be adjusted laterally towards and away from the other, it is a very simple matter to wind a film edgewise onto the carrier. After the film has been wound edgewise onto the film carrier, and the ends of the film connected together, the film will continue to unwind from the carrier and rewind onto same without liability of snarling or tangling, due to the fact that means is provided for accurately guiding the film onto the carrier. A film carrier of the kind herein described can be used with practically any make of moving picture projecting machine and can either be manufactured and sold as a part'of the complete machine, or as an attachment for moving picture projecting machines.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A film carrier for moving picture machines, comprising a rota-table member provided with a rim portion onto which a film is adapted to be wound edgewise, and adjust-able means for holding the film in a vided with a rim portion onto which a continuous film is adapted to be wound edgewise, a flange on said rim portion that extends parallel to the film, and a laterallyadjustable member arranged parallel to said flange for holding the film in proper position on the carrier.

4. A film carrier for moving picture ma- I chines, comprising a wheel provided with a rim portion onto which a continuous film is adapted to be wound edgewise, a. fiange on said rim portion arranged at substantially right angles to the axis of rotation of said wheel, a ring-shaped member surrounding said rim portion and arranged parallel to said flange for holding the film in proper position, and means for adjusting said ringshaped member towards and away from said fiange.

5. A film carrier for moving picture machines, comprising a rotatable member provided with a tapered rim portion onto which acontinuous film is adapted to be wound edgewise, and means for maintaining the film in asubstantially upright position on said rim portion. l

6. A film carrier for moving picture machines, comprising a wheel provided with an axially tapered rim portion onto which a continuous film is adapted to be wound edgewise, and members for maintaining the film in a substantially upright position on said rim portion,- one of said members being adapted to be adjusted relatively to the other so as to vary the space in which the film is confined.

7. A moving picture machine, comprising a projecting apparatus, a rotatable film carrier onto which a continuous film is adapted to be wound edgewise with the coils of the film extending spirally around said carrier and disposed at an angle to the axis of rotation of the carrier` a feeding mechanism for said film arranged in such a manner that the film will be presented fiatwise to the projecting apparatus, and meansfor twisting the film from a horizontal to a vertical position as it is being rewound onto the film carrier.

8. A rotatable film carrier for moving picture machines provided with an approximately cylindrical portion onto which a continuous film is adapted `=to be wound edgewise with the coils of the films extending spirally around said carrier and disposed at an angle to the axis of rotation of the carrier, and a guiding device provided with tension rollers through which the film passes as it is being rewound onto said carrier.

9. A rotatable film carrier for moving picture machines provided with an approximately cylindrical rim portion onto which a continuous film is adapted to be wound edgewise, members between which the film on said rim portion is confined, means that tends to move the film away from one of said members, and means for guiding the rewound portion of the film into the space extending alongside of said member.

10. A rotatable film carrier for moving picture machines provided with an approximately cylindrical rim portion onto which a continuous film is adapted to be wound, a member on said carrier that forms one side of the space in which the film is confined, a device that causes the film to be guided onto said carrier alongside of said member, and means for forcing the film on the carrier away from said member so as to form a space for the portion of the film that is being rewound onto the carrier.

11,. A rotatable film carrier for moving picture machines provided with an approximately cylindrical rim portion onto which a continuous film is adapted to be wound, a member on said carrier that forms one side of the space on which the film is confined, and a stationary guide provided with a portion arranged parallel to said member and through which the film passes as it is being rewound onto said carrier.

12. A rotatable film carrier for moving tion onto which a continuous film is adapted to be wound edgewise, members on said carrier that form the side walls of the space in which the film is confined, and means for forcing the film away from one of said members at the point where the film is being unwound from the carrier.

14. A rotatable film carrier for moving picture machines provided with a rim portion onto which a continuous film is adapted to be wound edgewise, members on said carrier that form the side walls of the space in which the film is confined, means for forcing maaien the film away from one of said members at the point where the film is being unwound from the carrier, a guide through which the film passes as it is being rewound onto said carrier, and a spreading device on said guide.

15. A record film package comprising a rotatable carrier provided with a supporting portion and a film wound edgewise thereon in the form of a plurality of coils extending spirally around said portion, and means for holding said coils in substantially parallel relation to each other and at an angle to the portion of said member onto which the film is wound.

16. A record strip storing device comprising a rotatable member provided with an approximately cylindrical rim portion onto which a strip is adapted to be Wound edgewise, a flange on said portion arranged at substantially right angles to the aXis of rotation of said member, and a laterally adjustable confining device that co-operates with.

said fiange to confine the strip'in proper position on said rotatable member with freedom of uncoiling therefrom.

17. A record strip storing device comprising a rotatable member provided with an approximately cylindrical portion tapered in the direction of its axis of rotation onto which a strip is adapted to be woundy edgewise, and means for maintaining the coils of the stri in an upright position on said cone-shaped portion.

18. An apparatus for handling a fiexible strip, comprising a rotatable member having a portion onto which a continuous strip is adapted to be wound edgewise to the axis of winding so as to form a source of supply comprising numerous coils, means for confining the coils of the strip on said member in substantially parallel relation, means for feeding the strip .off of and onto said mem.

ber, and means for twisting the strip as it is being' rewound onto said member.

19. An apparatus for handling a continuous strip of flexible material, comprising a rotatable member having an approximately cylindrical portion onto which the strip is adapted to be wound edgewise to the axis of winding so as to form a source ofvsupply which the strip is drawn from and returned to as said member rotates, a guiding device through which the strip passes as it is being rewound on said rotatable member, and a tension device that acts on the strip.

20. An apparatus for handling a flexible strip in the form of an endless band, comprising a rotatable member onto which the strip is adapted to be wound with its edge presented toward the axis of winding, devices on said member that maintain the coils of the strip in parallel relation to each other,

space for the portion of the strip that is being Wound onto said member.

21. An apparatus for handling` a continuous eXible strip, comprising a carrier provided with a rim portion onto which the strip is adapted to be Wound with one or its edges presented toward the axis of Winding,

u a member on said carrier that forms one side of the space in which the strip is confined, a device that causes the strip to be guided onto said carrier alongside of said member, and means for moving the source of supply on the carrier away 'from said member so as to form a space for the por- ITT! tion of the strip that is being revvound onto the carrier.

22. An apparatus for handling a fiezibie strip in the form of a continuous band, oomprising a rotatable member having a portion onto which the strip is adapted to be Wound with its edge presented toward the axis of Winding, means for feeding the strip oii of and onto said member, and guiding devices for said strip arranged in proximity to the points Where the strip leaves said member and is returned to said member.

JOHN A. DE VUJBSS. 

